There Rome comes close to the feat and is eliminated by Bayer Leverkusen in the semifinals of Europa League. The Giallorossi play a spectacular match and momentarily gain parity thanks to a brace from Paredes from a penalty, but the unfortunate own goal of Left-handed in the 82nd minute he interrupts the dreams and the goal scored in the 97th minute by Stanisic definitively closes the games. At the end of the match mister Daniele De Rossi made some statements to the reporters’ microphones.
POSTMATCH
DE ROSSI AT SKY SPORT
Tonight a mix of feelings, disappointment and pride…
“Yes, we played a heroic match, they are strong. In the first half we did very well in the first 25 minutes, like in Rome. We didn’t shoot much, we have this habit of trying too little, sometimes it can make the difference. The boys played an incredible game. Two days ago we were at the Olimpico against Juventus giving everything, tonight another match of physical and mental effort. Bayer played well, but when you get it back and come close to a miracle knowing that no one has won here, and you find yourself reopening it with an unlucky goal it hurts. But we start again in this spirit, we have other important races. Now we have the last 3 games.”
What conclusions do you draw regarding Atalanta from a physical point of view?
“Pride can only be taken up to a certain point, we lost Spinazzola, many are tired, but we must be ready for Sunday. We and Atalanta will have two different moods, we must be ready to play another very difficult match. We don’t discover Atalanta today. We have to be ready, it’s a tough and comeback period, we knew we would be in deep water, I can’t say anything to this team.”
The team regained compactness after you put El Shaarawy on the right…
“Let’s say that that band and the exchange between Spina and Angelino was the main part of the preparation for the match. We put two bigger forwards plus Cristante to come in, because we saw that they were confusing the scoring, which is where the penalty came from. Then a player stretches out of nowhere, Zalewski warmed up for 20 seconds against someone who goes at 200 mph, he suffers at the start. Frimpong always bets on you, I didn’t want to expose Zalewski to a second card.”
What have you learned from this European journey? How is Dybala?
“I learn something every game, it’s a new experience. A year ago I was sacked in Serie B. We followed a path that only 5 coaches have done in the history of Roma. I feel proud, we made 4 semi-finals for the teams we faced. I learned why my job is not limited to 90 minutes, but I have to analyze why we didn’t go to the final. We faced a team stronger than us. I told the boys to give everything, then if they are better we shake their hands. Today they are stronger. Dybala has made himself available, he still makes the ice, yesterday he felt annoyed again. We avoided injuries, we brought him to try to throw him in but the match went differently. I would have put him in extra time.”
DE ROSSI AT RAI SPORT
We imagine he said many words of comfort to his boys.
“I didn’t make any particular speeches, I hugged them and thanked them. They gave everything they had, we arrive at this match after an incredible tour de force. Holding off against such a strong team wasn’t easy and we held off as best we could. We should have held the ball more but I just say thanks to my boys, for the path they gave me and for everything I see in training. They give me hope for the future.”
It was difficult to do more against a team that runs strong and well. Do you see anything in Leverkusen’s characteristics in the players that can be useful to you?
“I think these are characteristics that are useful to anyone in today’s football, players who tear up and who can suddenly create an opportunity and stretch the opponents. They play so well because they have a strong coach, we were 1-0 and they still pushed because we had lost the distance. Congratulations to them, they were stronger, we shake their hands because they play well, they are built well and have physical characteristics that make it difficult to be aggressive and stay tall. We played 25 minutes in the first half very well. 28 minutes in the first half very well in Rome, we knew that today it would be a chase and once we got it back on its feet we were a bit unlucky. They are having a season of grace, an episode turned in their favor as happened in the match. gone.”
Bayer are amazing but the elimination came with three huge errors. Does this increase regret?
“Yes, but as a coach I have to analyze that they shot a lot on goal and our goalkeeper made a lot of saves. We played it out and I’m proud, the episode is unfortunate but it’s not like they were behind waiting for us, they pushed hard and they are a strong team. The only way to make up for it is to keep the ball and not give it to them, the other way is Atalanta who are in the final “.
DE ROSSI AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE
The man on the pitch was Svilar, then he made the decisive error: what did you say to him at the end of the match?
“I spoke to everyone, there were many to cheer up. If I spoke to him now I would say thank you, we played a great match but they shot a lot on goal and he was always very ready as on other occasions. I can only tell him thanks, as well as everyone else. We played against a strong team, sometimes you have to recognize the value of your opponents. We did very well at the beginning, as in Rome, then in the long run their quality came out and we took the lead it’s very difficult for a team like that. It’s a shame, we had it back, but when these teams have a season like this, they are often blessed with luck and the episodes of both the first leg and the second leg turn on their side. We did it right game, it hurts, but we come out of it with greater conviction and with an excellent spirit. We are a team that comes to play almost everywhere.”
As time passed, their quality showed, probably favored by Roma’s difficulties on the pitch: what happened?
“They came to take us man by man, without leaving one free. We knew they would do it, but until the moment they did it with one man less we managed to manage the ball and often came out without problems. When they came man to man you have to use longer balls and sometimes you can’t do that. In our missed restarts we lost some distance, against such strong teams we have to take the ball away from them The ball came out in the second half, but it’s difficult against a team that can score goals at any moment.”
Does the difference between the two teams concern the duration of the journey or the individuals? Does Roma lack players like Frimpong or Chiesa?
“We are at the beginning of our journey, this match leaves a bad taste in my mouth but also great confidence. The team has important technical and gigantic human values, there are physical characteristics of players who leapfrog man and they have them. We don’t need different players, but we also need these characteristics. We faced three semi-finals because Brighton and Milan could have been here with those players and therefore it seems wrong to me to talk about these things now. Now we have to recover, physically and mentally. Atalanta on the plane, they will have to recover a bit. If they had told me on January 16th that we would arrive here I would have signed up, the boys are making a big sacrifice, if we had scored more points in the first part of the season I wouldn’t be here. Who is the favorite between Bayer and Atalanta? I know, Atalanta can put them in difficulty. If I curse the mistakes of the first leg, it’s not that I curse them, let’s say we came to do a feat and we came close to it. From the perspective of the two games they deserve to go to the final, but we would have deserved it too. Let’s see how Dybala is, today he came for the last 10 minutes of prayer if it had been necessary.”
DE ROSSI ON ROME’S OFFICIAL CHANNELS
“We played a game of great pride, with a lot of intelligence. In the first 20 minutes we also played well. We knew we were facing a strong team that played on the edge, mentally they were calm, we prepared this match with the right nerves, we are proud.”
Did you play the game you had prepared?
“Yes, we could have kept the ball more. From strong teams you have to take away possession, because it can be more annoying for them. From the bench it’s easy, on the pitch sometimes you struggle to keep the ball, you lose distance. There is also a question of mental and physical fitness, I can’t help but thank the players.”
How do you face these 3 championship finals?
“How we approached all the races. He runs, recovers and gives everything. These guys are amazing, I couldn’t be more proud. I knew we had to chase, we have our opportunities. On January 16th, if they had told me that I would play in the Europa League semi-final and be fifth on equal points with Atalanta, we would all have signed up for the ranking position we found. We can’t clap our hands yet, we have three very important challenges.”
PREMATCH
DE ROSSI AT SKY SPORT
Some training news. There is also the double attacker, what is the objective?
“Putting fat in the area. We were also a bit forced by Dybala’s condition. On the left wing we have many players, but Spinazzola and Angelino when they play together interchange and help each other, they are useful: one is more of a ball carrier, the The other player can put it however he wants with his foot, giving us a good range of options, in the area we can head it with Lukaku, Azmoun and Cristante.”
How should Dybala be managed at this stage?
“Well, if it had been another match we would have left him at home. Yesterday after 10 minutes he felt a bit of discomfort. We did checks, there are no injuries and there is nothing to worry about. But what the player feels player is more important than what the machine says. We have to be careful, because maybe putting him on the field would mean having a player who doesn’t push. He’ll try a little in the pre-match warm-up and we’ll see if we can have him for 20-30 minutes end if there is a need.”
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